About The Learned Owl Book Shop

The Learned Owl Book Shop

The Learned Owl Book Shop is a locally run, community bookstore in Hudson, Ohio. We have three floors of books for all ages and all interests, ranging from classic picture books to travel guides to the latest New York Times bestsellers. If we don’t have the book you’re looking for in our stock, we can usually order it. We also offer an out-of-print search service for those especially hard-to-find books.

We’ve also partnered with libro.fm to provide our customers access to 100 thousand downloadable audiobooks.

Stop by to browse and enjoy our old-fashioned atmosphere, up-to-the-minute book selection, and unparalleled customer service.

Click here for a virtual tour!


A Brief History of the Owl

In 1968, Hudson resident Jean Isabel and her husband, Bob, founded the shop. At the time, The Learned Owl was only in what is now the “Children’s Room,” where kids’ books and young adult fiction live today. During the early 1970s, the store was owned by Joan McCook. When Hudson resident Rosemary Burner Jones purchased the store in the mid-70s, she expanded the bookstore into both sides of the main floor, more than doubling its size. 

On October 15th, 1983, Liz Murphy and Elaine Ober purchased the shop from the Burners, and Liz became the sole proprietor in 1990. Following Liz’s retirement, Kate Schlademan purchased the Owl in March 2013. In the past 50+ years, the shop has grown from 1,500 square feet at street level with one phone and two employees working six days a week to 2,300 square feet on three floors, five networked computers, four phone lines, a web page, email, and 6 employees working tirelessly seven days a week.

Kate Schlademan and Liz MurphyOver the past 50+ years, The Learned Owl has hosted hundreds of book and author events. Some of the most memorable include Jan Brett, Brian Jacques, Lady Soames (Winston Churchill’s daughter), Terry Pluto, Cinda Williams Chima, Eric Carle, and former Cleveland Indians player, Bob Feller. Along with this, children have been enchanted by the dozens of book character appearances over the years, including the Cat in the Hat, Clifford, Curious George, the Berenstain Bears, and Esteban, the green crayon.

By changing with the times, and thanks to many very loyal customers, The Learned Owl has beaten the odds and remains a thriving business.

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